Success 2013: Kurt Elling, American jazz vocalist, composer, lyricist and vocalese performer. He has been nominated for ten Grammy Awards, winning Best Vocal Jazz Album for Dedicated to You (2009)

Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz vocalist, composer, lyricist and vocalese performer. Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Rockford, Elling first became interested in music through his father, who was Kapellmeister at a Lutheran church. Growing up, Elling sang in choirs and played various musical instruments, but was not exposed to jazz until he attended Gustavus Adolphus College. Elling enrolled in graduate school at the University of Chicago Divinity School, but left school one credit short of a master's degree to pursue a career as a jazz vocalist.
Elling began to perform around Chicago, scat singing and improvising his own lyrics. He recorded a demo in the early 1990s and was signed by Blue Note Records, releasing a total of six albums with the label. He has been nominated for ten Grammy Awards, winning Best Vocal Jazz Album for Dedicated to You (2009) on the Concord Jazz label. Elling often leads the Down Beat critics poll, and he was awarded the Prix Billie Holiday from the Académie du Jazz. Since 1995, Elling has collaborated with pianist, composer, and arranger Laurence Hobgood, leading a quartet that regularly tours the world.

While living in Chicago in 1995, Elling decided he was ready to record. He had met pianist Laurence Hobgood through Ed Petersen, who played the Green Mill on Monday nights. Elling convinced Hobgood that he was ready to go into the studio, and they came out with nine solid songs. Following the advice of pianist Fred Simon, the cassette recording was sent to Bill Traut, a manager in Los Angeles, who eventually gave it to Bruce Lundvall of Blue Note Records. 

Blue Note (1995–2005)

Two months later, Elling was signed to Blue Note, and the songs on the demo became the Grammy nominated label debut, Close your Eyes (1995). The album features Edward Petersen and Von Freeman on tenor saxophone, Dave Onderdonk on guitar, Laurence Hobgood on piano, Eric Hochberg and Rob Amster on acoustic bass, and Paul Wertico on drums.
Close Your Eyes was followed several years later by The Messenger (1997), with Elling releasing a total of six albums for the Blue Note label.
In 1999, Elling became a National Trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and in 2003, he was elected Vice Chair and served two terms. 

Concord (2006–present)

In 2006, Elling performed on the television program Legends of Jazz, in the episode "The Jazz Singers". Elling sang "She's Funny That Way" and performed a duet with Al Jarreau on "Take Five". The recording was released on CD and DVD. In August of the same year, Elling signed a new record contract with Concord Jazz, and his first album with the label, Nightmoves, was released in 2007.
The follow-up, Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman (2009), is a tribute to the 1963 recording John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, widely recognized as one of the all-time finest jazz vocal albums. The album arose out of a 2005 concert commissioned by the Chicago Jazz Festival, showcasing the Coltrane-Hartman material. Later, Elling and pianist Laurence Hobgood rearranged the music, culminating in a performance in the Allen Room at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. The concert was recorded in January 2009 and the album was released in June.
Elling is a baritone with a four-octave range, and a writer and performer of vocalese, the art of writing and performing words over improvised jazz solos. In 2007 and 2012, Circumstantial Productions published two editions of Lyrics: Kurt Elling, collections of Elling's vocalese lyrics, edited by Richard Connolly. 

Collaborators

Elling has performed and recorded with David Amram, Bob Belden, Joanne Brackeen, Oscar Brown, Jr., Billy Corgan, Orbert Davis, George Freeman, Buddy Guy, Jon Hendricks, Charlie Hunter, Randy Bachman, Bob Mintzer, Rex Richardson, and Bob Sheppard.
As of 2012, Elling's band included musical director Laurence Hobgood on piano, John McLean on guitar, Clark Sommers on bass, and drummer Kendrick Scott.

Marius Copil, Romanian tennis player

Marius Copil (born October 17, 1990) is a Romanian tennis player playing on the ATP Challenger Tour and a member of the Romanian Davis Cup team.

Career highlights

2009

In September 2009 he received wild card access to the main draw of 2009 BCR Open Romania, where he defeated his fellow countryman Victor Crivoi in the first round, but he lost to Spaniard Rubén Ramírez Hidalgo in the second round.

2010

In May 2010, Marius reached his first ATP Challenger Tour final at the Trofeo Paolo Corazzi as a qualifier. On his route to the final he won in three sets against Australian Bernard Tomic in the semifinals but eventually lost the final to German Denis Gremelmayr.

2011

The year 2011 started very good for Marius. He reached his second Challenger final at the Tretorn Serie+ event in Kazan, Russia. In the final, he won against 4th seeded German, Andreas Beck, in straight sets.

2012

Copil beat World No. 13 Marin Čilić in the first round at the China Open in Beijing. 

ATP Challenger Tour finals

Singles: 4 (2–2)

Success 2013: Adrian Ungur, Romanian tennis player

Adrian Ungur (born January 25, 1985) is a Romanian tennis player who mainly competes on the ATP Challenger Tour. He is a member of the Romania Davis Cup Team and is coached by Fabrizio Fanucci. In June 2012, Ungur reached his career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 79. His most notable result was a four set victory over David Nalbandian in the first round of the 2012 French Open.

Following some good results in Challenger events, Adrian was entered into the main draw at the 2012 French Open, his first main draw appearance at Grand Slam level. He beat former world number three David Nalbandian in the first round, before being defeated in four sets by Roger Federer in the second round – although he saved two match points in winning the third set.

Adrian Ungur is a Romanian tennis player who mainly competes on the ATP Challenger Tour. He is a member of the Romania Davis Cup Team and is coached by Fabrizio Fanucci.

Born: January 25, 1985 (age 28), Pitești

Height: 1.78 m

Weight: 73 kg

Turned pro: 2003

Spouse: Liana Ungur

Success 2013: Victor Crivoi, Romanian tennis player

Victor Crivoi (born May 25, 1982) is a Romanian tennis player who lives in Bucharest. In 2005, he played in the International Tennis Federation's Professional Circuit and won seven titles.


As a result, he was named the ITF's "Player Of The Year" for 2005. At the end of 2005, he was ranked #269 by the ATP, up from #488 at the year's start. His career high ranking is #75, achieved on August 17, 2009.

In the 2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, as a qualifier, he beat 14th seed James Blake 7-5, 6-3 in the first round; he then lost to Robin Söderling.

He qualified for the 2009 French Open. He lost to Gaël Monfils in the second round.

Born: May 25, 1982 (age 31), Romania

Height: 1.85 m

Weight: 75 kg

Turned pro: 2003

Success 2013: Dumitru Hărădău, former Romanian tennis player. He reached the Davis Cup final in 1972

Dumitru Hărădău (born December 2, 1951) is a former Romanian tennis player. His highest ATP ranking was number 322 achieved on July 2, 1977. 
 

CV Dumitru Haradau
Numele si prenumele: Haradau Dumitru

Data si locul nasterii: 02.12.1951, Hunedoara

Domiciliul stabil: Bucuresti

Functia actuala: Director General FRT

Implicarea in activitatea Federatiei a adus o contributie majora de aprox. 40% - 50% la bugetul total al institutiei.

Din 2005 Director General Federatia Romana de Tenis

        Din 1996 - 2001, 2005   Vicepresedinte Federatia Romana de Tenis



Studii: Institutul de Educatie Fizica si Sport, Bucuresti, Specializare tenis

Activitate sportiva:

Titluri obtinute: 1972 - 1984 Component al echipei de Cupa Davis a Romaniei; Finala si semifinala de Cupa Davis si calificarea de 4 ori in sferturile Cupei Davis;

            Vicecampion Universitar;

            de 2 ori locul 3 la simplu in Europa;

            5 titluri de Campion Balcanic;

            Locul II in lume si III in Europa, clasament ITF, la peste 35 ani

1973 - 1977  Campion National al Romaniei

1970 - 1984  Participare ca sportiv la turnee internationale de tenis

Antrenor (inceputuri la varsta de 29 ani): primul jucator antrenat - Adrian Marcu

- antrenarea celor mai buni jucatori si jucatoare de tenis din Romania si din Europa

- cea mai buna clasare a unui jucator antrenat, Horst Skoff - 18 ATP;

- cea mai buna clasare a unei jucatoare antrenata, Raluca Sandu - 90 WTA (19 ani).

Activitate:

din 1996 - prezent            Director BCR Open Romania - Turneu ATP; Director Turneu ATP, Challenger Brasov; Membru ATP

din 2003 - prezent            Organizatorul meciurilor de Cupa Davis ale echipei Romaniei la tenis;

din 2003 - prezent            Participarea la toate actiunile (congrese, consfatuiri, intalniri) ale Federatiei Internationale de Tenis sau Tenis Europe.

Success 2013: Hristo Stoichkov, nicknamed 'El Pistolero'. He was part of Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' and helped Barcelona to one of the most successful eras of the club, winning the Primera Division four years in a row

Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov (Bulgarian: Христо Стоичков Стоичков), sometimes Stoitchkov; born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian footballer.

He is regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Nicknamed The Dagger (Камата), The Dog (Кучето), The Modern Left (Модерния ляв).

At Barcelona he earned the Spanish nickname 'El Pistolero' which translates to 'the gunslinger'. He was a member of the Bulgaria national team that finished fourth at the 1994 World Cup, of which he was the top scorer with 6 goals.

Apart from his footballing talent, he was notable for his on-pitch temper. His awards include the European Golden Boot, the Ballon d'Or, the World Cup Golden Boot and the World Cup Bronze Ball.

Stoichkov began his career in his hometown, moving to Hebros in 1984. The next year he went to CSKA Sofia. There, he was involved in a fight during the final of the 1985 Bulgarian Cup which resulted in an original lifelong ban, which was eventually reduced to a month suspension.

After he was brought back to football, he managed to win the European Golden Boot with CSKA by scoring 38 goals in 30 games. He then moved on to FC Barcelona, where he was part of Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team', Stoichkov helped Barcelona to one of the most successful eras of the club, winning the Primera Division four years in a row between 1991 and 1994 and the European Cup after defeating Sampdoria in 1992. During his stay in Barcelona, he had become an idol for the club's fans, and was Barça's most popular player at the time, having earned a place in the supporters' hearts much like Johan Neeskens and Diego Maradona in the past. In Barcelona Stoichkov played in tandem with Romário.

In his first season with the club Stoichkov was suspended for two months for stomping on a referee's foot, but he still netted 14 league goals and six more in the Cup Winners' Cup. Stoichkov then had short spells with Parma, Al-Nassr, and finally finishing his career in Japan with Kashiwa Reysol and the United States with the Chicago Fire and D.C. United.

Stoichkov played as a left winger who was known for his explosive acceleration and speed dribbling, and for taking unpredictable shots on goal. He was also notable at taking free kicks and penalties as well as being among the best crossers in the world at his prime. He gained infamy because of his aggressive temper on the pitch.

He could often be seen arguing with the referee, or with his opponents. In 2006, he was sued by a former American University college student whose leg he broke in a violent tackle during a match against D.C. United in 2003.

The case was settled out of court in 2007 for undisclosed financial terms. The student's coach called Stoichkov's challenge "criminal". Ray Hudson, who coached D.C. United for whom Stoichkov played at the time, called it a "rash tackle". Following an investigation by MLS, Stoichkov was suspended two games and fined $2,000.


Honours at  Barcelona

• Spanish League: 5

1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98

• Spanish Super Cup: 3

1992, 1994, 1996

• European Cup (now called: Champions League): 1

1991–92, Runner-Up 1993–94

• European Super Cup: 2

1992, 1997

• Copa del Rey: 1

1996–97

• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1

1996–97

Success 2013: Hristo Stoichkov, retired Bulgarian footballer that was awarded the World Cup Golden Boot (1994). He retired from internationals in 1999 with 37 goals in 83 appearances

Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov, sometimes Stoitchkov; born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. He is regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Nicknamed The Dagger (Камата), The Dog (Кучето), The Modern Left (Модерния ляв). At Barcelona he earned the Spanish nickname 'El Pistolero' which translates to 'the gunslinger'. He was a member of the Bulgaria national team that finished fourth at the 1994 World Cup, of which he was the top scorer with 6 goals. Apart from his footballing talent, he was notable for his on-pitch temper. His awards include the European Golden Boot, the Ballon d'Or, the World Cup Golden Boot and the World Cup Bronze Ball.

At the 1994 World Cup, Stoichkov was awarded the World Cup Golden Boot as the joint top goal scorer of the tournament (with Oleg Salenko), with six goals, as well as earning the Bronze Ball award. He led Bulgaria past Germany to the semi-finals, where they lost 2–1 to Italy. They subsequently lost the third place play-off to Sweden, 4–0.

Bulgaria finished second in the qualifying group for Euro 1996 after the first place was taken by the eventual winners, Germany. Stoichkov scored 10 goals for his team during the qualifiers, as Bulgaria qualified as one of the best 6 runners-up. In the first match against Germany in Sofia, Bulgaria were 2–0 down at half-time. Stoichkov equalized with two goals from penalties and Emil Kostadinov also scored for a 3–2 win. Bulgaria lost the second match in Germany 3–1.
During the finals, Bulgaria lost 3–1 in the decisive group match against a very strong France side (the future World Champions); at the same time, in the other match, Spain won 2–1 late on against Romania and so the Bulgarians went out. In that tournament, Stoichkov scored 3 goals in 3 matches, and another goal against Spain was disallowed for offside, though action replays show that he was actually on-side. Stoitchkov was the only player to score from a free kick (against France) in this tournament.
He was also part of the squad that was eliminated in the first round of the 1998 World Cup. Bulgaria was not nearly as strong as in previous years, earning only one point in a 0–0 draw against Paraguay and scoring only one goal through Kostadinov in a 6–1 defeat by Spain in the so-called "Group of Death".
Stoichkov retired from internationals in 1999 with 37 goals in 83 appearances. Subsequently he was the coach of the Bulgarian national team from 2004 to April 2007.

Success 2013: Hristo Stoichkov, the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. His awards include the European Golden Boot, the Ballon d'Or, the World Cup Golden Boot and the World Cup Bronze Ball

Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov, sometimes Stoitchkov; born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. He is regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Nicknamed The Dagger (Камата), The Dog (Кучето), The Modern Left (Модерния ляв). At Barcelona he earned the Spanish nickname 'El Pistolero' which translates to 'the gunslinger'.

He was a member of the Bulgaria national team that finished fourth at the 1994 World Cup, of which he was the top scorer with 6 goals. Apart from his footballing talent, he was notable for his on-pitch temper. His awards include the European Golden Boot, the Ballon d'Or, the World Cup Golden Boot and the World Cup Bronze Ball.

At the 1994 World Cup, Stoichkov was awarded the World Cup Golden Boot as the joint top goal scorer of the tournament (with Oleg Salenko), with six goals, as well as earning the Bronze Ball award. He led Bulgaria past Germany to the semi-finals, where they lost 2–1 to Italy. They subsequently lost the third place play-off to Sweden, 4–0.

 In 1994, he was named European Footballer of the Year after leading his national side to the 1994 World Cup semi-finals.


Stoichkov retired from internationals in 1999 with 37 goals in 83 appearances. Subsequently he was the coach of the Bulgarian national team from 2004 to April 2007.

Manolo Santana, spanish former tennis player who was ranked World No. 1 in 1966. Before winning Wimbledon he was quoted as saying "The grass is just for cows"

Manuel Martínez Santana, best known as Manolo Santana, (born 10 May 1938 in Madrid) is a former amateur tennis champion from Spain who was ranked World No. 1 in 1966. He was born in Madrid.

Wimbledon he was quoted as saying "The grass is just for cows."^{[citation needed]} He thought that tennis should be played on artificial surfaces as opposed to lawn tennis courts like the ones at Wimbledon. This statement has been repeated throughout the years by numerous players including Ivan Lendl, Marat Safin, Marcelo Ríos, and Jan Kodeš (despite his 1973 victory at Wimbledon.

Before winning Wimbledon he was quoted as saying "The grass is just for cows." He thought that tennis should be played on artificial surfaces as opposed to lawn tennis courts like the ones at Wimbledon. This statement has been repeated throughout the years by numerous players including Ivan Lendl, Marat Safin, Marcelo Ríos, and Jan Kodeš (despite his 1973 victory at Wimbledon).

In 1965, Santana, who had begun his career as a ball boy and "picked up" the game, led Spain to unexpected victory over the US in the Davis Cup, and he became a national hero.

Despite his previous Grand Slam successes in the French Championships (1961, 1964) and the U.S. Championships (1965), Santana's win at the 1966 Wimbledon lawn tennis championships was a surprise, where he defeated the sixth seed Dennis Ralston 6–4, 11–9, 6–4. This was his last Grand slam title. His last big tournament win was in 1970 by winning Barcelona where he defeated Rod Laver 6–4 6–3 6–4. He also captured the doubles title in Barcelona that year when he teamed with Lew Hoad to defeat Laver/Andrés Gimeno 6–4 9–7 7–5. He was named to the Hall of Fame in 1984.
At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Santana won the Gold medal in Singles, though tennis was only a demonstration sport at that time. It became a medal sport in 1988 (after another demonstration event in 1984).
He later was captain of the Spanish Copa Davis Team twice, once in the '80s and again for four and a half years in the mid-'90s, until he was dismissed in 1999. Currently, he is the organizer of the Madrid Masters.

He manages the Manolo Santana Racquets club, a tennis club in Marbella, and the Sport Center Manolo Santana, in Madrid.
Santana and Lleyton Hewitt are the only Wimbledon Men's Singles champions to lose in the first round in the following year; Hewitt's loss was during the Open Era, while Santana's was before the Open Era.
He appeared at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships in London, England in the Royal Box to watch the Men's Final which was between his fellow countryman Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (who had just become World No. 1 after winning his semi-final match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga).

Grand Slam record

French championships

• Singles champion: 1961, 1964
• Doubles champion: 1963

Wimbledon championships

• Singles champion: 1966

U.S. championships

• Singles champion: 1965

Jan Kodeš, a right-handed Czech former tennis player who won three Grand Slam events in the early 1970s

Jan Kodeš (Czech: Jan Kodeš; born March 1, 1946, in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a right-handed Czech former tennis player who won three Grand Slam events in the early 1970s.

Kodeš's greatest success was on the clay courts of the French Open. He won the title there in 1970, beating Željko Franulović in the final, and in 1971, defeating Ilie Năstase in the final.

He also won Wimbledon on grass in 1973, although 13 of the top 16 players, and 81 players in total, did not play the tournament that year because of a boycott over the ILTF banning Nikola Pilić from that Wimbledon. Kodeš beat home favorite Roger Taylor in the semifinals 8–9, 9–7, 5–7, 6–4, 7–5 and Alex Metreveli in the final 6–1, 9–8, 6–3.

Kodeš never played the Australian Open but he was twice the runner-up at the US Open, in 1971 and 1973.

Kodeš reached his highest tour ranking of World No. 4 in September 1973. During his career, he won a total of 8 top-level singles titles and 17 doubles titles.

He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990, in 2013 he received Czech fair play award from Czech Olympic Commitee.

We spoke at the First Czech Lawn Tennis Club on Prague’s Štvanice island, which he joined at the age of 13. When had his talent first come to attention?
“I started when I was 8 years old in a club near here. It was called Čechie Karlín. But I mainly played soccer as a teenager. I played both. And when I became number three in the Prague under 12s championship somebody said, maybe he could play tennis.”
Tell me a bit about your background. I was reading that your father was a lawyer who was forced to work in a factory and also worked at the Čechie tennis courts.
“Yes, that was in 1951, 1952. It was a period which was very, very difficult for my parents.”
Was it an advantage to you that your dad was working at those courts?
“I don’t think so. I was there just because of his job. But then when I got my first prize, when I became number three in Prague in the under 12s, then my father decided I should go to this club here, to get a coach. Because at that time there weren’t good coaches at the other small clubs.”
Was it the case in those days that sports people had to have some kind of formal employment? So, for example, a soccer player would have to go in the morning to a factory and then clock in and leave again? Did you have to do something like that?
“You’re talking about the guys who were no longer juniors, but I was in school. And later on I was lucky and I got into the University of Economics. So actually it was not like that, because I studied till I was 26.
 “It was true that some sportsmen had to go to work in the morning and they could practise in the afternoon. They were released, for example three or four hours early, to go for practice.”
Your greatest successes were your three Grand Slam titles. What are your strongest memories of your first Grand Slam title, the French Open in 1970?
“Well, the first Grand Slam title is always the most difficult one, because you feel that you’ve achieved something that’s going to be in history, because for a person who wins a Grand Slam title their name goes down in history.
“Of course, I was very nervous. I remember I had gruelling, tough matches in the third and fourth rounds, which were of five sets and took almost four hours. One was against the Romanian Ion Tiriac, the other was against the clay courter and very good Davis Cup player Francois Jauffret from France.
“The final I actually won quite easily, against Zeljko Franulovic. But I always remember the tough matches before the final.”

For many people around the world, perhaps in particular those who aren’t so interested in tennis, Wimbledon, which you won in 1973, is THE tennis competition. Do players consider Wimbledon to be a greater tournament than the other Grand Slams?

“Wimbledon has some kind of historical…thing because of the surface, grass. In my time, three Grand Slams were played on grass: the US Open in Forest Hills, the Australian Open in Kooyong and Wimbledon. The only event played on clay was the French Open.
“So until today, the players have a feeling that Wimbledon is, historically, something different from the other tournaments – because it’s on grass.” (radio.cz)

Succes 2013: Raymond Kopa, a former French football attacking midfielder. Winner of The Golden Ball in 1958. First footballer that was decorated with Légion d'honneur

Raymond Kopa ( born Kopaszewski, on 13 October 1931 in Nœux-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais) is a former French football attacking midfielder, integral to the French national team of the 1950s.
Often considered one of leading players of his generation, Kopa was a free-role playmaker who was quick, agile and known for his love of dribbling. He was also a renowned playmaker, as well as a prolific scorer.

Born into a family of Polish immigrants, Kopa began his professional career at the age of 17 with SCO Angers in Ligue 2 and was transferred two years later to Stade de Reims, with whom he won French championships in 1953 and 1955. He helped Reims reach the first European Cup final in 1956, which the team lost to Alfredo Di Stéfano's Real Madrid, 4–3.
Kopa was transferred to Real Madrid the subsequent season, where he was soon joined by Ferenc Puskás. At Real Madrid, Kopa won the Spanish league in 1957 and 1958. Kopa also became the first French player to win the European Cup when Madrid defeated Fiorentina 2–0 in the 1957 final. He would go on to be European champion again in 1958 and 1959, the last against former side Stade de Reims, where Just Fontaine played.
In the 1959–60 season, Kopa returned to France to finish his career with Reims, where he won further Championnats in 1960 and 1962. In total, he scored 75 goals in 346 matches in France's top flight, and was given the Ballon d'or by France Football in 1958.
With the France national football team, Kopa scored 18 goals in 45 games between 1952 and 1962. He played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, where the French team finished third, losing to the Brazilian team.
Kopa was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Achievements

• French League: 1953, 1955, 1960 and 1962 with Stade Reims
• Spanish League: 1957 and 1958 with Real Madrid
• French second division: 1966 with Stade Reims
• European Cup: 1957, 1958 and 1959 with Real Madrid; runner-up 1956 with Stade Reims
• Latin Cup: 1953 with Stade Reims and 1957 with Real Madrid; runner-up 1955 with Stade Reims
• FIFA World Cup: third place 1958 with France
• Golden Ball: 1958
• Légion d'honneur: 30 November 1970 (first footballer to hold it)

I absolutely loved dribbling. Some people told me off for it, saying that I held on to the ball for too long and that I slowed the game down.

Raymond Kopa 

 

The uniquely talented Raymond Kopa was blazing a trail for French football long before the likes of Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane came on the scene.

Standing only 5’6, Kopa made up for a relative lack of stature with some prodigious dribbling skills, and played an instrumental role in three of Real Madrid’s first five victorious campaigns in Europe.

Yet the pinnacle of his career arguably came at the 1958 FIFA World Cup Sweden, where he was recognised as the player of the tournament, a not inconsiderable achievement given the goalscoring feats of team-mate Just Fontaine and the exploits of an emerging teenager by the name of Pele.Born in the northern French town of Nœux-les-Mines to Polish immigrants, Raymond Kopaszewski – to give him his real name – endured a tough upbringing. He honed his gritty determination and will to win in his teenage years when he earned his keep by pushing coal-laden wagons in a mine.

It was the loss of a finger in an accident that prompted him to pursue a career in football, a sport he had already showed a considerable talent for from the age of ten.

From coaldust to stardust In May 1949 he took part in the Young Footballer Competition, a national event open to budding professionals and followed closely by the country’s foremost coaches. Finishing second overall, he signed a contract with Angers shortly afterwards. His career would take off two years later when he bumped into Albert Batteux, the legendary Stade de Reims coach, at a friendly match. “He had a gift for assessing players’ abilities and fielding them in the right positions,” said Kopa. “Without him, a lot of players would never have been able to express their skills, starting with me.”To make the most of his prodigy’s close dribbling skills, which were aided by a low centre of gravity, Batteux deployed Kopa just behind the strikers in a withdrawn No10 role that marked a departure from the conventions of the time.

“I absolutely loved dribbling,” commented Kopa. “Some people told me off for it, saying that I held on to the ball for too long and that I slowed the game down. My coaches always insisted that I stick to my style of play, though.”

Those bewildering dribbles invariably ended with pinpoint passes to well-placed team-mates, who made the most of Kopa’s gift for slowing the game down to find space for themselves or make a run.

After joining Reims in 1951, Kopa quickly became the orchestrator-in-chief of a brilliant team that took the French championship by storm and lost in a seven-goal thriller to Real Madrid in the first European Champion Clubs’ Cup final in 1956.

Within a few weeks of that memorable encounter, Kopa caused a sensation by agreeing terms with the newly crowned European champions. “I was the first French player to leave the country,” he later recalled. “At the time a lot of people saw me as a traitor. It was just my misfortune to be a pioneer.” It was during his time in Madrid that he acquired the nickname of Napoleon, teaming up with two living legends in Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas to conquer Europe and forge his own glittering reputation.“They were three fantastic years,” said the fabled Frenchman. “For three whole seasons we won the lot. We were also voted the team of the century by the fans in 2000, the club’s centenary year. There was an incredible atmosphere whenever we played, with 125,000 fans shaking their white handkerchiefs. We didn’t have any sponsors and there were no games on TV, so we had to play friendly matches across the world to keep the club going. They really were different times back then. I won three consecutive European Cups with Real, and in three years we only lost one home match in all competitions.”

The king of Sweden

Along with five other new boys – Cesar Ruminski, Lazare Gianessi, Armand Penverne, Thadee Cisowki and Joseph Ujlaki – Kopa made his France debut in a 3-1 defeat of Germany on 5 October 1952. This new generation would propel the French into the international elite, with the peerless Kopa playing an integral part in that process over the next ten years.Though the 1954 FIFA World Cup Switzerland came too early for France’s young bucks, who departed the competition at the end of the first round, they were more than ready when the world’s finest came together again four years later.“That tournament prepared the ground for the 1958 World Cup,” explained Kopa. “Nobody was expecting us to do well in Sweden, but we started off with a 7-3 victory over Paraguay, who were regarded as one of the three teams tipped to win the competition. After losing to Yugoslavia and defeating Scotland, we beat Northern Ireland before coming up against Brazil in the semi-finals, where a new boy called Pele scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 win.

“We were the two strongest teams at the time,” he continued. “And the reason they won so easily was because our captain Robert Jonquet got injured and we had to play with ten men (substitutes not being allowed at the time).”

Les Bleus claimed some consolation in their final game of the competition, when a scintillating attacking display by Kopa inspired them to a 6-3 defeat of Germany in the match for third place. Kopa’s finest hour in blue actually came three years earlier, in a friendly against Spain in Madrid in March 1955, the French wizard astounding the 125,000 crowd with an amazing display. He made what was to be his final appearance for his country in a 3-2 defeat to Hungary at the Stade Colombes in November 1962. Stationed in an unfamiliar position on the right flank, a disgruntled Kopa was unable to exhibit his usual flair, subsequently falling out with national coaches Henri Guerin and George Verriest before deciding to end his international career. 

No regrets

His club career continued for some time after. Returning to Reims following his three seasons in Madrid, he won his fourth and last league title with them in 1962. Powerless to prevent them dropping out of the top flight two seasons later, he finally announced his retirement from the professional game on 11 June 1967.A keen amateur player up until the ripe old age of 70, he has maintained close contact with the football world, and also found time to launch a sports apparel brand and appear on radio and TV as an expert summariser. A resident of Corsica since 2000, he sees his former team-mates on a frequent basis, no one more so than former sidekick Just Fontaine. Having now turned 80, he has no regrets about the path he took: “Football changed my life. Leaving my job in the mine for the stadiums made a man of me.” (fifa.com)

Success 2013: Tom Okker, a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked World No. 1 in doubles in 1969, and among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years

Thomas Samuel "Tom" Okker (born 22 February 1944) is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of World No. 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World No. 1 in doubles in 1969.

Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through 1968. In 1968, he turned professional and won his first important tournaments in singles and in doubles (with Marty Riessen) at the Italian Open. At Wimbledon, Okker reached the quarterfinals in 1968 and the semifinals in 1978.

He achieved his best result in a Grand Slam tournament at the 1968 US Open, where he reached the final after defeating Pancho Gonzales in the quarterfinal and Ken Rosewall in the semifinal. He lost the final to American Arthur Ashe in five sets, 12-14, 7–5, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6.
Okker won 31 singles titles. As of 2000, 20 years after his retirement, Okker's 31 career open tennis singles victories (combined ATP tour, Grand Prix, and WCT tournaments) still ranked 20th all-time. Among Okker's singles titles were the 1970 German Open and Belgian Open, 1973 Dewar Cup and Canadian Open, and 1974 WCT Rothmans.^[4][5] He also was the runner-up in 24 singles tournaments.

Okker is also among the most successful men's doubles players of all time. Okker won two Grand Slam doubles titles, the US Open in 1976 (with Riessen) and the French Open (with John Newcombe) in 1973.

In total, Okker won 78 doubles events, a record that was finally broken by Todd Woodbridge in 2005. Okker's other doubles titles include the 1973 Italian Open, 1973 London Grass Courts (with Riessen), 1973 Spanish Open (with Ilie Năstase), 1975 Opel International (with Arthur Ashe), and 1978 WCT World Doubles (with Wojtek Fibak).

 One of the first tennis professionals to win at least US $1 million in career prize money, Okker's WTC career earnings stood at US $1,257,200 when he retired in 1980 ($3,502,998 today).
 Between 1964 and 1981, Okker represented The Netherlands in the Davis Cup, playing in 13 ties and accumulating a 15–20 win-loss record.
 Okker was a fan favorite with his animated, quick-footed play. He was a slight but canny player, who often defeated larger, more powerful opponents. He was among the first players of his era to hit the ball with heavy topspin.